GULF’s Sarath Joins Government Forum, Urges PM to Push Clean Energy and Power Liberalization Also Calls for Measures to Curb ‘Zero-Dollar’ Data Centers

On May 15, Mr. Sarath Ratanavadi, CEO, Gulf Development Public Company Limited, joined more than 34 top executives from 10 major industries at Government House for the “Voices to the PM” forum. Presided over by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, the dialogue served as a platform for private sector leaders to present a comprehensive "Thai Economic Blueprint” aimed at collaboratively drive the nation forward amidst global economic volatility, technological disruptions, and climate pressures.

During the session, Mr. Sarath presented critical visions and proposals to the government, focusing on accelerating the country's energy transition to reduce fuel imports, ease inflationary pressures, and support the long-term stability of the Thai Baht. He recommended that the public sector thoroughly plan grid stability systems and carefully manage battery cost structures.

Furthermore, he proposed liberalizing the electricity market through Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading systems, enabling consumers to purchase electricity directly from producers. This move is expected to modernize Thailand’s economic structure and attract further foreign investment. He also urged the government to expedite national infrastructure upgrades, address credit constraints, and eliminate double taxation for Thai companies investing abroad.

A key highlight of Mr. Sarath’s proposal was the recommendation of preventive measures against "Zero-Dollar Data Centers”, where foreign tech companies build massive digital infrastructures in Thailand, but the country receives very little economic benefit in return. He urged the government to establish clear conditions requiring foreign data center investors to generate at least 30% local added value for the Thai economy. This ensures that such investments genuinely yield benefits and build a robust foundation for Thailand's digital economy and AI technology. These proposals align with the government's upcoming initiatives to deregulate policies and promote green industries to elevate the country's global competitiveness.